The English tattooist Josh Peacock, based near Cambridge, takes great pleasure in hijacking characters from all sorts of graphic worlds, particularly pop culture, to which he likes to stick extra-wide smiles. A little bit silly, a little bit disturbing, and often quite farty, he tells us more for Inkers about this strange signature motif: the "mo-teeth".
Can you please give me a little presentation?
I’m 44 years young and live near Cambridge, England. I’m a music-addicted artist and art lover. I’ve set up a private studio in Linton, the village where I grew up, called ‘Four Candles Tattoo Studio.’ It’s chilled, and that’s how I like it to be.
What kind of music do you listen to?
I love most genres of music, from punk to golden era hip hop, shoe-gaze indie and trip-hop to classical. When I’m working, it’s mostly chill out music, nostalgia and grunge. Keeps me focused, calm and happy.
Have you always drawn?
I’ve always drawn/created. Life is too short not to see what’s possible and what we’re all truly capable of. Drawing has always been my therapy, a space where I can play, experiment and break rules, happily and with little consequence.
In what other areas do you express your creativity?
Aside from tattooing, I enjoy art in general, but also writing, history/archaeology and I occasionally play around with music programs.
Under the influence of which graphic universes did you grow up?
I’m a scribbler and a doodler. For me the fun is in the narrative and the satisfaction is in the execution. I’ve been surrounded by influences of all types, but, aside from tattooing itself : comics, album artwork, skate illustrations and alternative culture are what has truly inspired me. As well as fine art- modern, classical and prehistoric. Specific artists that have blown my mind over the years : Jamie Hewlett, Simon Bisley, Derek Riggs, and Pushead.
How did tattooing come into your life?
I came into contact with tattooing via a few friends but simultaneously through graffiti. I did some murals/artwork/signage for a local studio and visited my first convention in London. Only after than I caught the bug. The more I learned about tattooing as an art form and as a craft, the more I wanted to get involved and to hopefully develop my own styles.
You who love art, what specificities of the tattoo culture have particularly interested you?
What I love about tattooing is it’s vitality. It’s always growing and pushing artistic norms. Tattoo artists take (educated) risks that require vision and commitment to see through. These people excite us all and try my best to contribute and be part of this fantastic movement.
Your graphic register is very specific. You decided very early on that you would concentrate on funny and weird characters in small format?
I’ve always love skateboard artwork, deck design and stickers. I think my tattoo style is essentially that of sticker artwork. Nice n small, but I do love big projects too. I try to explain a simple narrative in a simple way and express a joke or a sentiment.
Your instagram feed is populated with an impressive gallery of characters of all kinds, where do they come from?
My clients are an important in the choice of my characters, but I enjoy debasing any subject’s main features/characteristics. It gives me joy. I love debasing ego, beauty and evolutionary flaws. That’s where the teeth came from - originally I only put the teeth on animals that lack teeth in nature.
Your characters are recognizable by their enlarged teeth, can you tell us about the trauma at the dentist's that caused it? More seriously, where does it come from ?
After a motorbike accident and (losing) a couple of fights, I had to have a lot of dental work. Maybe this is where my fascination was born, but I think I’ve always enjoyed gnarled teeth and goofy grins. It’s just a motif ( mo-teeth ) that stuck throughout my doodles, graffiti and into my tattoos. I like my work to look cute but creepy and awkward. Somehow the teeth help me achieve this.
It's important to keep the humour in the art and not take yourself too seriously?
The humour and punning is important to me and my clients. Why would you want a morose, solemn tattoo? When you could just as easily celebrate and remember those things important to us with something funny, quirky and odd. Humour is the triumph over life’s troubles and pitfalls. It’s true alchemy, as is art.
Paradoxically, I read that you used to do a lot of realistic portraits, mainly for memorial reasons, after deaths. Were these smiles a way of warding off those painful atmospheres?
I haven’t abandoned realism, I still do black n grey/ colour realism but I mainly present my weirder/silly designs online as I think that’s what people enjoy to see me post. Plus, if you post one black n grey tat work you get asked to do a million pocket watches. Unfortunately the sentiment of black n grey tattoos eventually hammered my optimism and I became unenthusiastic and a bit depressed. I’m naturally happy, I was in my dream job, so I knew something was wrong. So I returned to my passion, my happy place, which is bold illustration and new school. I don’t care to copy people, never have. I think it defeats the point of creating and so formed my own goofy style of time.
Radio, neon lights, lightning, inflatable balloons, reflections found in your tattoos are difficult things to represent. Is it a way to challenge yourself technically?
Currently I’m toying with light effects that can last well. The X-rays were too tempting, and I figured they’d work well with black work enthusiasts and a new way for doing coverups. All of the X-rays, neon effects, Mylar balloons have been me seeing what’s possible and attempting to push the boundaries in my own way.
You work mainly on a small scale, are your eyes ok?
I like to work small and as clean as possible. I’m not sure if this was wise as now I have to wear glasses. Saying that, I also enjoy bigger projects and will experiment further. I might try more freehand and abstract projects if they come along.
Can you tell us a little about your tattoos? On your chest you have "dead by down" tattooed, what does it mean and what is its history?
The tattoos that I wear are mostly offbeat and funny to me. Lots of puns, strange quotes and beautiful artwork by talented friends. I’ve got ‘DEAD BY DAWN’ across my chest. Although it’s a classic horror movie quote (Evil Dead), mine is based on a tune by Depth Charge that samples the film. A soundtrack to the mushroom sessions of our teens.
I guess you tripped over that phrase when you were high. Do you use drugs to create?
Back in the day I used a lot of drugs. All drugs. I was addicted to all of them at one point or another. I’m 17 years clean now, but I have enough of that shit rattling about in the brain that I have no problem using it to my advantage to help create new styles and works. My only problem is writing down all of my ideas. My brain doesn’t turn off. It’s annoying as hell but I also enjoy it. I believe that ‘genius is the correct application of insanity.’ Not calling myself a genius… No true artist in 100% sane in my opinion.
What does it means?
It means that all mental differences we have are also actually strengths too. Without finding a purpose or use, we are just weird. But, once we find the strengths within our weaknesses and use them effectively- it’s like a super power, or what we all call talent. + IG : @joshpeacock_obe1
